Premier Rocky Mountain Prawns: Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Report

Every once in awhile we will go in to the Monterrey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch web site to check and see where we will stand as far as their recommendation for shrimp consumption goes. This is as far as for the environment and for the health of you and I is concerned as well.
Today we have posted the page from the section for U.S. Farmed Shrimp. We are proud of the fact that we will be in their "Best Choice" category, but when you get past the chart to the consumer notes, the first line you will see is "For the most sustainable product, look for shrimp raised in fully recirculating systems or from farms located inland using tanks or ponds." We are quite proud of the fact that we are going to be a sustainable product where our shrimp will be raised in fully recirculating systems.

Yet even with recommendations like these there are still those (in the financial world primarily) that can't possibly imagine that recirculating farming facilities can be productive, or produce a shrimp that has a taste close to that of an ocean shrimp.

If we think about that for a moment, the water the shrimp are going to be raised in will have the same salinity as the ocean. The food will actually be healthier than what they are eating in the ocean if you think of the fact that shrimp are bottom feeders. Our water is clean and remains that way where as the water our shrimp is currently coming out of, either from the ocean or ponds is more likely going to be polluted in one way or another.

So they may be right. The taste may be different. It may be different in a good way wouldn't you think? A healthier diet, a healthier environment, yet still the same salinity as what their wild raised cousins are living in?

So take a look at the chart and keep reading. We hope that you will continue to support us and you know as usual we are currently still looking for investors.

We appreciate all of your support.
Scott

SHRIMP

SEAFOOD	RATING	MARKET NAMES	WHERE CAUGHT	HOW CAUGHT
Freshwater Prawn		Giant River Prawn, Malaysian Prawn	U.S.	Farmed
Northern Shrimp		Bay Shrimp, Cocktail Shrimp, Salad Shrimp, Ebi	U.S., Canadian Atlantic	Wild-caught
Pink Shrimp		Bay Shrimp, Cocktail Shrimp, Ocean Shrimp, Salad Shrimp, Ebi	Oregon	Wild-caught
Rock Shrimp		Rock Shrimp	U.S.	Wild-caught
Shrimp		Brown Shrimp, Pink Shrimp, Rock Shrimp, White Shrimp, Ebi	U.S. Gulf of Mexico, U.S. South Atlantic	Wild-caught
Shrimp		Black Tiger Shrimp, Tiger Prawn, White Shrimp, Ebi	Imported	Farmed in Open Systems
Shrimp		Black Tiger Shrimp, Tiger Prawn, White Shrimp, Ebi	Imported	Wild-caught
Shrimp		Pacific White Shrimp, West Coast White Shrimp, Ebi	U.S.	Farmed in Fully Recirculating Systems or Inland Ponds
Shrimp		Pacific White Shrimp, West Coast White Shrimp, Ebi	U.S.	Farmed in Open Systems
Shrimp		Pacific White Shrimp, West Coast White Shrimp, Ebi	Thailand	Farmed in Fully Recirculating Systems
Shrimp		Pacific White Shrimp, West Coast White Shrimp, Ebi	Mexico	Farmed in Open Systems
Spot Prawn		Prawn, Spot Shrimp, Amaebi	U.S. Pacific	Wild-caught
Spot Prawn		Prawn, Spot Shrimp, Amaebi	Canadian Pacific	Wild-caught

SHRIMP, U.S. FARMED

Shrimp from U.S. farms are produced under strict environmental laws, making them a better choice than imported farmed shrimp. However, all U.S. farms are not equal.

While most U.S. farmed shrimp are a "Good Alternative," a small percentage is ranked "Best Choice." These farms have further reduced their impact on the environment by raising shrimp in fully recirculating systems or inland ponds, away from sensitive coastal habitats.

CONSUMER NOTE

For the most sustainable

product, look for shrimp raised in fully recirculating systems or from farms located inland using tanks or ponds. The terms "shrimp" and "prawn" may be used interchangeably. Shrimp is known as ebi when prepared for sushi.

SUMMARY

Shrimp is the world's most valuable seafood and the most popular among U.S. consumers. Almost half of the shrimp consumed worldwide is farmed, with the majority from Asia and Latin America. The U.S. produces less than 1% of shrimp consumed by Americans.

All large-scale farms require wild fish to feed the shrimp. U.S. farmed shrimp require 1.35 pounds of wild fish per pound of shrimp produced. The larger the shrimp, the more wild fish feed is required for it to grow.

Pollution, disease and escapes from shrimp farms are all concerns, but U.S. shrimp farmers have begun to address these problems. Farms that use fully recirculating systems and those located away from the coast don't release effluent into sensitive ocean habitats. By treating and recycling the water or using it for agriculture, these farms reduce pollution and lower the risk of escapes and disease transfer to wild stocks.

Unfortunately, the majority (87%) of shrimp farms are located in or near coastal waters and openly release effluent. This can impact natural habitat and increase the risk that the shrimp, and any disease they carry, may escape and impact wild populations.

Look for shrimp or prawns raised in fully recirculating systems or inland ponds as a "Best Choice." If you can't confirm this, assume the shrimp is farmed in an open system and is a "Good Alternative."

U.S. farmed shrimp is also a much better alternative for consumers concerned about the bycatch

of seahorses, sea turtles, fish and invertebrates that occurs in warmwater shrimp fisheries.Scientific Reports About Our Ratings

U.S. Farmed Shrimp Seafood Watch Report

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